Materials for an average 3 bedroom house
| Item | Quantity | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Small boxes (book boxes) | 25–35 | Books. Tinned food. Tools. Records |
| Large boxes | 20–30 | Bedding. Cushions. Lampshades. Clothes |
| Wardrobe boxes | 3–5 | Hanging clothes straight off the rail |
| Bubble wrap | 1 large roll | Glassware. Frames. Ornaments |
| Packing paper | 10 kg | Plates. Mugs. Void filling |
| Tape and marker pens | 6 rolls · 4 pens | Sealing and labelling |
Kitchen
- Stack plates vertically on their edge with paper between each one. They survive far better upright.
- Wrap glasses individually and fill the hollow. Then pack them rim-down in a box divider.
- Pack a kettle. Four mugs. Tea. A knife and a chopping board in the essentials box. Not the kitchen boxes.
- Empty. Defrost and dry the freezer at least 24 hours before move day.
Bedrooms and wardrobes
- Use wardrobe boxes for suits and dresses. And bin liners over hanging clusters for everything else.
- Keep a labelled bag of bed bolts and allen keys taped to the underside of each bed frame.
- Pack one 'first night' box per person: bedding. Pyjamas. Toiletries and a change of clothes.
Living room. Electronics and fragile items
- Photograph cabling before unplugging the TV. Router and games consoles.
- Carry screens flat-packed in their original boxes where possible. Otherwise upright and blanket wrapped.
- Wrap picture frames in bubble wrap and tape a cross over the glass.
- Use double-walled boxes for anything heavy. And never fill a box heavier than you can lift alone.
Labelling that speeds up unloading
Write the destination room and a one-line summary on the top and one side of every box. So it is readable when boxes are stacked. Mark fragile boxes on all four sides.
Number the boxes and keep a simple list on your phone. It makes the inventory check at the other end a two-minute job rather than an argument.